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Review: Trinity of Sin: The Phantom Stranger #9

By | June 7th, 2013
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With a longer title and a shorter list of creators, “Phantom Stranger” #9 feels a few steps away from being a Vertigo book, and as such is markedly higher in quality than previous issues of the series.

Written by J. M. Dematteis
Illustrated by Fernando Blanco

The Phantom Stranger travels to Hell to save his family! But to do so, he must defeat a foe he never expected to see again!

To this point, “Phantom Stranger” has played the game of throwing concepts at the wall and waiting for one to stick. With inconsequential appearances by characters like the Spectre, Raven, Jack Ryder, and Pandora, as well as absurd and outlandish characters like the Nightmare Nurse, the series has been less about the Stranger and more about setting up the next thing in the New 52. Even when the Stranger was the focus, the central plotline involving his missing family has never quite felt natural, as the Stranger being typically portrayed as an unfathomable and entirely alien being. However, J. M. Dematteis, who takes over fully for Dan Didio, goes a long way towards jettisoning the fluff and making the Stranger’s predicament engaging and relatable.

This issue makes it clear, if it wasn’t already, that the Phantom Stranger fans have known for decades is gone. In his place is Judas Iscariot, cursed with immortality after his infamous betrayal. As such, he’s no longer the aloof and enigmatic mystery being of hold, but a human being. Albeit, one surrounded by a cloak of tragedy, but also one with normal human emotions and desires. As such, it’s unfair to view this series through the lens of what was. When taken as it is, Dematteis’ working of Dan Didio’s premise makes for a tragic but wonderful story of love, the indomitability of the human spirit, and the beauty of redemption.

Religious themes and motifs have been a key part of the New 52 incarnation of the Phantom Stranger, and this is especially the case here. With the revelation that his family has been imprisoned in hell, the Stranger must make the ultimate sacrifice to save them. The parallels between the Stranger and Jesus Christ, the man he previously followed and betrayed, are hardly subtle, but then again, subtlety has never really been on the table.

Even if the issue does beat the reader over the head with the religious stick, the hellish landscape and horrific methods of torture employed make for a fantastic looking issue. Fernanda Blanco casts hell in a typical “lake of fire” fashion, but still manages to make the world interesting to behold. The entrance into hell was particularly inspired, taking a page from Disney’s Aladdin. The issue’s most disturbing scene, in which the stranger gets intimate with what is essentially a rotting corpse, is terrifically framed and paced. And yeah, that last sentence should clue you in that this is one screwed up issue. Indeed, the grotesque tone, religious themes, and dark, moody art combine to give this issue a “Vertigo-lite” feel.

Thankfully, Dematteis manages to finally pay off several of the book’s lingering plot-lines and actually ends the issue on a positive note. With things beginning to wrap up and “Trinity War,” on the horizon, one has to wonder if there’s much gas left in this tank. It would certainly be a shame to see the book go, especially as it appears to have finally hit its creative stride. To reiterate, this isn’t the Phantom Stranger you know, but rather something entirely new. If fans, and DC itself, can embrace that idea, then maybe this struggling book can finally find its legs.

Final Verdict: 6.7 – Browse. It’s not “Sandman” by any means, but still worth a look for fans of religion and philosophy in their funny books.


Zach Wilkerson

Zach Wilkerson, part of the DC3 trinity, still writes about comics sometimes. He would probably rather be reading manga or thinking about Kingdom Hearts. For more on those things, follow him on Twitter @TheWilkofZ

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